January 31 / 16.11 Musselburgh

16.11

Good To Soft

Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 7f 138y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 21-472 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won twice last season (soft/good) and bounced back from heavy-ground blip to finish second at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; runs well a lot more often than not and he's a leading player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

Kelce

11st 7lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Consistent sort who gained a first win of the current campaign in 3m Musselburgh handicap chase 37 days ago; not ruled out despite taking a 7lb hike in the weights.

7/2

1st

5

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Kelce

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who won twice last season (soft/good) and bounced back from heavy-ground blip to finish second at Aintree (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; runs well a lot more often than not and he's a leading player.

5/2

7/2

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 753142 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Mixed form in 2025 but ran his best race for a long time when going close here (2m4f, good to soft) under Dylan Kidd on New Year's Day; kept on strongly last time and he's run well on soft ground in the past; could be a player now back up in trip if backing up that latest performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Rexem

12st 2lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Pulled up in the Ulster National (3m4f, soft) in March but he was runner-up in two chase handicaps at Musselburgh (2m4f/2m7f) before that; now returns to hurdling but he's 3-8 in this sphere and is on a dangerous mark on this drop back in trip and grade; one to keep an eye on.

13/2

9

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Rexem

10st 12lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: John C McConnell

Mixed form in 2025; ran his best race for a long time when going close at Musselburgh on New Year's Day (2m4f, good to soft); again finished second over 2m7f at that venue last time; main positive is his good record at this venue, two wins (bumper and maiden hurdle) and a second from four visits.

10/1

2nd

3

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Rexem

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Mixed form in 2025 but ran his best race for a long time when going close here (2m4f, good to soft) under Dylan Kidd on New Year's Day; kept on strongly last time and he's run well on soft ground in the past; could be a player now back up in trip if backing up that latest performance.

7/2

Form: 24-362 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Four chase wins in the 2023-24 season (including on soft ground); 0-11 since but ran well off this reduced mark when runner-up over C&D (good to soft) on last month's stable debut, following a break; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Special Rate

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Hugh Burns

Yet to add to his four chase wins for Philip Kirby during 2023-24 season but has made the frame on all four starts for current stable since December, most recently when third of five at Newcastle (2m4f, good) nine days ago; tried in cheekpieces today; probably won't be far away.

11/2

3rd

5

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:42 Newcastle

Special Rate

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Hugh Burns

With Phil Kirby when left alone in a match at Kelso (3m, soft) in February 2024, that being his fourth (and most recent) win over fences; runner-up in this last year (beaten 11l) for Lizzie Quinlan; in the frame three times (Musselburgh) for Hugh Burns; competes from an easing mark, needing more.

4/1

4th

1

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 4

16:20 Musselburgh

Special Rate

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Hugh Burns

On a two-year losing spell but looks reasonably solid, having posted two respectable efforts over C&D this winter for new yard; remains well treated on peak form.

4/1

Form: 9/43P- D

Last run: 379 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
12yo who wasn't the force of old last season and was pulled up last January when last seen; however, he can go well fresh and returns on a reduced mark and with his trainer enjoying a productive winter; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Empire Steel

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Very well handicapped on old form and returned from layoff with quite encouraging run at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) in January but ought to have been suited by the heavy ground when tailed off at Kelso last month and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

5/1

5th

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Empire Steel

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season but he's dropped down the weights and returned from an absence with an encouraging fourth at Musselburgh (2m7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; could show the benefit of that latest outing today, especially now back at a track where he is four from six.

9/2

4th

1

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Empire Steel

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

12yo who wasn't the force of old last season and was pulled up last January when last seen; however, he can go well fresh and returns on a reduced mark and with his trainer enjoying a productive winter; not discounted.

6/1

Form: -144F3 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Well beaten when third at Newbury (2m7f, good to soft) this month but that was a satisfactory performance on his first run since last July; won twice in the first half of last year (3m1f/3m, good to soft/good) and it's possible he'll build on his latest effort; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Always Busy

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Back in good nick for his two runs last month, latterly when close third to Wicked Thoughts at Taunton (3m4f, good); still unexposed over marathon trips and still on a workable mark; could have a say.

7/1

3rd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

Always Busy

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dual winning chaser who confirmed his well-being when second of four finishers at Southwell (3m, good) eight days ago; steps up in trip and if that brings about any improvement then he should be in the firing line.

11/4

Form: 26-021 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on November's return to action (2m6f, good to yielding) then went one better in a big field at Punchestown (2m3f, yielding to soft), getting off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt; won at 3m over hurdles and there's plenty to like about this 10yo's claims today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

25th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 136y

19:05 Ballinrobe

Sammy Smart

10st 9lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Thomas Gibney

Much less exposed as a chaser than many of these and did well last season; won over this trip at Punchestown and creditable efforts last twice; likely to be handy and coming back to this trip might well be a plus.

8/1

3rd

6

19th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 140y

16:28 Tramore

Sammy Smart

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Thomas Gibney

Shed the maiden tag over fences at Punchestown (19.5f, yld-sft) in December off 6lb lower; not a bad run in listed novice handicap at Navan latest and this is much less demanding; seems best going right-handed so this track could suit; interesting.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 771-P8

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Easily made all in first-time visor (retained since) at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last April and he stays this far; however, pulled up/tailed off on his two outings this season and needs to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Inox Allen

10st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor over C&D (good to soft) last April; hard to fancy on his three runs this term but, given his previous reaction to new headgear, it's possible cheekpieces will garner a positive response.

9/1

7th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Inox Allen

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Easily made all in first-time visor (retained since) at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last April and he stays this far; however, pulled up/tailed off on his two outings this season and needs to turn things around.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £12.94
Trifecta £37.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kelce

POSTDATA:

Sammy Smart

TOPSPEED:

Rexem

RP RATINGS:

Special Rate

Telegraph:

Kelce

Daily Mail:

Kelce

D Express:

Kelce

Daily Mirror:

Kelce

The Star:

Kelce

The Times:

Sammy Smart

The Guardian:

Sammy Smart

Daily Record:

Sammy Smart

The Sun:

Rexem